Killing suspect heads for mental facility

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999 | 9:58 a.m.

Larry D. Taylor apparently is headed for the state mental facility before he can face charges of gunning down his ex-girlfriend in a crowded downtown casino.

A second psychiatrist has concluded the 37-year-old defendant is incompetent to stand trial on murder charges.

He will be sent to Lake's Crossing near Sparks for a full evaluation and treatment. When he is declared competent to stand trial, he will be returned to Las Vegas Justice Court for a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors have reserved the right to seek the death penalty, although no final decision will be made until the case finds its way to District Court for arraignment.

Taylor is said to have checked into the Golden Gate hotel-casino -- where Gloria Cohns worked as a blackjack dealer -- on Nov. 9.

The charges against Taylor allege that on Nov. 10 he walked into the casino with a pistol and shot at Cohns as she stood behind her table in the crowded casino.

She fled through the casino and into a women's restroom, where more shots were fired, witnesses said. A moment later, the woman emerged from the restroom and collapsed.